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Chinese cruiser Laiyuan

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Lai Yuen
History
Qing Dynasty Flag 1889.svgChina
NameLai Yuen
BuilderAG Vulcan Stettin
FateDamaged in Battle of the Yalu River, later scuttled.
General characteristics
TypeArmored cruiser
Displacement2,850 long tons (2,900 t)
Length82.4 m (270 ft 4 in)
Beam11.99 m (39 ft 4 in)
Draught5.11 m (16 ft 9 in)
Speed16 knots (18 mph; 30 km/h)
Range320 tons of coal
Complement270 officers and men
Armamentlist error: <br /> list (help)
• 2 × 210 mm (8.3 in) guns
• 2 × 150 mm (5.9 in) guns
• 4 × 457 mm (18.0 in) torpedo tubes
• 8 × machine guns
Armourlist error: <br /> list (help)
Belt: 9.5 in (240 mm)
Turret: 8 in (200 mm)

The Laiyuan (來遠; Romanized as Lai Yuen) was an armoured cruiser that was built by the Stettiner Vulcan AG shipyard in Stettin, Germany for the Beiyang Fleet.

The Lai Yuen displaced 2,850 tons and had a speed of 16 knots. Her armament consisted of two 8.2 inch (210 mm) guns, a secondary armament of two 5.9 inch (150 mm) guns and a torpedo armament of four 18 inch (457 mm) discharges. To this was added 8 machine guns. Total crew was around 270 officers and men. Dimensions; length of 82.4m, a beam of 11.99m and a draught of 5.11m. Armour was 9.5 inches (241 mm) for belt and 8 inches (203 mm) for the turret, 320 tons of coal could also be carried.

The Lai Yuen took part in the Battle of the Yalu River against the Imperial Japanese Navy on 17 September, 1894 and suffered numerous hits. Lai Yuen would later be sunk at Weihaiwei.

References

  • Wright, Richard N. J., The Chinese Steam Navy 1862-1945, Chatham Publishing, London, 2000, ISBN 1-86176-144-9
  • Chesneau, Roger and Eugene M. Kolesnik (editors), All The World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905, Conway Maritime Press, 1979 reprinted 2002, ISBN 0-85177-133-5